After talking with Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who worked for the Jaguars as a receivers coach from 2007-10, he seems fairly convinced that his former employer would like to have Justin Blackmon in teal next season.

Blackmon, considered the draft's top receiver prospect, might not be available when the Jaguars pick at No. 7. However, since it's never a sure thing that a receiver will be taken in the top 10, it's not inconceivable that Blackmon could remain on the board. The Jaguars have sent a lot of their scouts to the OSU campus to interview Monken about everything related to Blackmon.

I'm doing a story for Wednesday's Times-Union about the "character" issue in evaluating draft prospects. Blackmon does have a DUI on his record from October, 2010, though many draft analysts feel it's less of a concern for him than Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, who has three alcohol-related offenses.

Monken says he was given no indication by Jaguars' personnel if they would select Blackmon, but he senses they liked his overall makeup.

"I think they feel pretty good about both the football part and character standpoint," Monken said. "I think Gene [Smith, Jaguars general manager] does a good job of protecting his [draft] board. I don't know that part of it. I'm not privy to those conversations and no one has shared that with me. [The Jaguars] have asked questions and I've given them everything I know to try and help them."

Monken thinks Blackmon, a two-time Biletnikoff award winner as college football's top receiver, has too many good attributes and will succeed at the next level.

"Justin does everything that's hard, easy," Monken said. "The hardest things to coach are what he does well. He plays strong to the ball, judges the ball down the field, likes to play the game, and has natural after-the-catch instincts. Those are hard things to coach.

"You watch game tape and you think Justin is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, but he's 6-1, 207. He just plays bigger. Now is he the route-runner you want yet? Is he a polished persons yet? No, but that comes with age. You can become a better route-runner. You can grow as a person, like Fred Taylor did over time with the Jaguars."

That bein said, i agree that the Jags shouldn't use a top 10 pick on Blackmon. If they can trade out of the 7th spot and pick up an addtl pick I think that would be great. He is good but not 7th pick good, IMO. Other recvrs can be grabbed later in the first and in the second rd. If they are stuck at 7, dependin who is available.. id rather see a DE or CB be picked up, hell even that OT if he slides.